Coral Sea stingaree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coral Sea stingaree |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Urolophidae
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| Genus: |
Urolophus
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U. piperatus
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| Urolophus piperatus Séret & Last, 2003
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The Coral Sea stingaree (Urolophus piperatus) is a type of stingray that lives in the deep waters off northern Queensland, Australia. It belongs to the Urolophidae family of stingrays. This unique fish can be found at depths of about 171 to 310 meters (561 to 1,017 feet) near the edge of the continental shelf.
This stingray can grow up to 48 centimeters (about 19 inches) long. It has a body shaped like a diamond, with a snout that sticks out. It also has a special flap of skin between its nostrils that looks like a skirt. Its tail has a small dorsal fin (top fin) just before a stinging spine. The tail ends with a short, leaf-shaped caudal fin (tail fin). The top of the stingray is usually grayish or brownish, sometimes with tiny dark spots, like pepper.
Scientists think there might be two very similar types of Coral Sea stingarees: one that grows larger and one that stays smaller. Because there isn't much fishing in the areas where it lives, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists this species as "Least Concern". This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.
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Discovering the Coral Sea Stingaree
The first known Coral Sea stingarees were found during research trips by scientists from France and Australia in the 1980s. Before it had a proper name, it was called Urolophis "sp. B".
In 2003, two scientists, Bernard Séret and Peter Last, officially described and named the species in a science magazine called Cybium. They chose the name piperatus from the Latin word piper, which means "pepper". This name was inspired by the stingaree's spotted pattern.
The very first specimen used to describe the species was an adult male, 48 centimeters (about 19 inches) long. It was collected near Marion Reef off Queensland in 1985. The sandyback stingaree and the patchwork stingaree are close relatives of the Coral Sea stingaree.
Where They Live
The Coral Sea stingaree is found only in northern Queensland, Australia. Its home range stretches from Moreton Island northwards to Cairns, including areas like Saumarez and Marion Reefs.
This stingray is a bottom-dwelling species, meaning it lives on the seafloor. You can find it on the outer part of the continental shelf and the upper continental slope. It lives in deep waters, from about 171 to 370 meters (561 to 1,214 feet) down.
What They Look Like
The Coral Sea stingaree has a diamond-shaped body that is a bit wider than it is long. Its front edges are mostly straight, and its outer corners are rounded. The tip of its snout is fleshy and triangular, sticking out past its body disc.
Its eyes are quite large, and behind them are teardrop-shaped openings called spiracles. Between its nostrils, there's a unique flap of skin that looks like a skirt. This flap has a slightly fringed edge.
Inside its mouth, it has small, roughly diamond-shaped teeth. There are about 32 to 35 rows of teeth in the upper jaw and 30 to 39 rows in the lower jaw. It also has five short pairs of gill slits, which it uses to breathe.
The tail of the Coral Sea stingaree is about 76 to 85% as long as its body disc. It's flat at the base and sometimes has a subtle skin fold on each side. A stinging spine with serrated (saw-like) edges is located on top of the tail, about halfway along its length. Just in front of this spine is a small dorsal fin. The tail ends with a short, deep, leaf-shaped caudal fin.
The skin of this stingray is smooth and does not have any dermal denticles (tiny, tooth-like scales). Stingrays found in the Coral Sea usually have a light gray or brown color on top with tiny dark dots. Those found off Queensland tend to be darker brown and don't have a spotted pattern. Both the dorsal and caudal fins are brown with blackish edges. Young stingarees usually have more spots than adults. They also have a dark stripe along the top middle of their tail. The underside of the stingray is white, sometimes with dark edges on its body disc or a few dark spots on its tail. The biggest one ever found was 48 centimeters (about 19 inches) long.
Life in the Ocean
Scientists don't know much about the daily life of the Coral Sea stingaree. Like other stingrays, it is thought to be aplacental viviparous. This means that the mother carries her developing babies inside her body. The embryos get their food from a special "uterine milk" produced by the mother.
Newborn stingarees are about 12 centimeters (about 4.7 inches) long. Based on related species, it's likely that mothers give birth to only a few babies at a time. Males become ready to have babies when they are less than 23 centimeters (about 9 inches) long. Females mature when they are under 27 centimeters (about 10.6 inches) long.
It's unusual for a cartilaginous fish (fish with skeletons made of cartilage, like sharks and rays) to have such a big difference between the size they mature and their maximum size. This makes scientists wonder if what we call the Coral Sea stingaree might actually be two different species: one that stays small and one that grows much larger. However, these two possible forms look very similar and are hard to tell apart just by their appearance or body measurements.
Conservation Status
The Coral Sea stingaree is listed as "Least Concern" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is because there isn't much fishery (fishing) activity in the areas where it lives. This means that fishing doesn't pose a big threat to its population right now.
The species could also benefit from conservation efforts like the Australian National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, which was put in place in 2004.
